Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch Shell plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with 87, employees in more than 70 countries. We deliver a diverse range of energy solutions and petrochemicals to customers worldwide. During World War I, Shell became the main fuel supplier of the British army and also offered all of its ships to the British Admiralty, including the Murex.
The inter-war years were a time of rapid expansion for oil companies as the use of motor cars and demand for petrol increased. Shell fuelled the first trans-Atlantic flight made by Alcock and Brown in , developed new and improved drilling techniques and, in , founded Shell Chemicals to advance the refinement of chemicals from oil.
All Shell tankers came under Government control and many Shell staff showed great bravery in keeping them going, including the flying ace Douglas Bader who worked in the aviation department of Asiatic Petroleum before joining the RAF in War was also a catalyst for great innovation, with major advances in both fuel and chemicals research, including the development of fuels for new generations of aircraft such as the Spitfire. The immediate post-war years were some of the toughest Shell had yet faced.
Reconstruction was very expensive and the market for oil was changing rapidly. Against this backdrop Shell launched new exploration programmes in Africa and South America and built new refineries in the UK. The company also invested in larger and higher-powered ships — supertankers — in order to carry more oil in bulk.
In , the first commercially viable offshore well was drilled in the Gulf of Mexico and within 8 years the company had over such wells. New discoveries were also made in Borneo and the Niger Delta, and commercial production of oil in Nigeria began in A number of scientific advances at this time boosted the demand for oil, including the invention of the jet engine — its architect Sir Frank Whittle even worked for the company for a number of years. The Groningen gas field in the Netherlands was also discovered at the start of the decade, followed by the discovery of gas in the North Sea.
This time was also a golden period of research by Shell Chemicals and the company also took the decision to internationalise, placing local people in top positions to make the most of homegrown talent in each country. At the same time, Shell was a partner in the first sea transportation of liquefied natural gas LNG in — from the Algeria to the UK — opening up a whole new market for the business.
Instability in the Middle East at the end of the s and the start of the s led to a quadrupling of oil prices and meant that the era of cheap energy came to an end. In response, Shell began to diversify, in particular into coal, nuclear power and metals.
Shell also began to look beyond the traditional oil-producing countries for supplies and stepped up exploration in the North Sea and in the USA. In the s Shell began to grow through acquisitions. Previous Next. Featured content. Shell Energy Transition Strategy Read about how we are transforming as we accelerate the transition of our business to net-zero emissions, in step with society.
How can we help? Job search Shell station locator Shell credit cards. Latest news. Royal Dutch Shell plc third quarter results announcement Oct 28, Shell to grow company-owned retail sites in the U. Its near-term spending plans make clear that renewables of any form remain a small share of its overall capital outlays. In the long term, the company said, its capital spending will shift away from oil and gas and instead towards the part of the company focused on low-carbon fuels and its expanding retail network.
These ventures will eventually attract "around half of the additional capital spend. This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here. More From Forbes. Nov 11, , am EST.
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